Italy need a victory over Northern Ireland to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive, but their history in Belfast has seen no wins and a precedent that saw them miss the 1958 tournament after a fog delay.
The group concludes on Monday evening at 19.45 GMT at Windsor Park.
As things stand ahead of the final games, Italy and Switzerland are joint leaders of the group, with the Azzurri ahead thanks to their +11 goal difference compared to +9.
Roberto Mancini’s men need to at least match Switzerland’s result against Bulgaria, so a win is essential, then it goes to goal difference.
However, a victory in Belfast is something that Italy have never experienced, leaving here with only two draws and one very costly defeat.
The loss was an historic moment for the Nazionale, because the 2-1 result on January 15, 1958 was decisive in Italy failing to qualify for the 1958 World Cup.
Until Giampiero Ventura’s side lost to Sweden in the play-offs for the 2018 edition, that had been the only time Italy missed out on World Cup qualification.
The 1958 meeting was actually meant to be a month earlier, but Hungarian referee Zsolt was stuck in London because his plane was grounded by fog.
Instead, the two teams played out a 2-2 draw that was downgraded to a friendly in the absence of the international referee.
The only other trip Italy have taken to Belfast also ended in a draw, as they were held 0-0 here in the October 2010 European Championship qualifier.
Unless Mancini makes about 5 changes to the starting line-up this will be very difficult for Italy to not only out score N.Irelnd ,but also Switzerland at home v Bulgaria. I’d start Berardi, Bernardeshchi, Scammaca,Tonali and anyone not named DeLorenzo.
They are toast they had so many chances to have qualified already abs those two penalty missed misses and tying Bulgaria at home cost them . Fully deserved if they don’t make it. Bunch of bafoons need to eat more pasta like bonucci says
Agree. Would make 6. Something like:
Donurruma
Zappacosta, Bonucci, Mancini, Emerson;
Locatelli, Tonali, Pessina;
Berardi, Scammaca, Chiesa
They are toast they had so many chances to have qualified already abs those two penalty missed misses and tying Bulgaria at home cost them . Fully deserved if they don’t make it. Bunch of bafoons need to eat more pasta like bonucci says
Italy needs goals and must not concede so best to play the midfielders that can defend, create something and score goals – that means Locatelli, Barella, and Cristante. Insigne to the bench with Chiesa taking his spot on the left and Berardi coming in on the right. Belotti is a failure so time for the young ones – either Raspadori or Scamacca. I suspect though that Mancini will go for a false 9 meaning Insigne, Chiesa and Berardi will start.
Di Lorenzo is a poor defender and should be replaced by Calabria who also gives you something going forward and Acerbi is too slow and clumsy and must be replaced by Bastoni.
The weather is going to be perfect, Italy are going to play like champs and put this thing to bed.
Keep dreaming Joe this team will be lucky to get a win let alone a big win . They are going to playoffs maybe by March they will have healthy players . Regardless they not going anywhere
424 the right formation if italy want to triumph on monday. jorginho and tonali in middle to maintain the tempo and ticking, I’m okay with any man up front. azurri will deliver and book their place. relax brothers italy will qualify come Monday.
Everything was going so well until we won the Euros. I just hope Mancini has not been infected with the Allegri virus after watching their games.
Calm down. We should do the job. It’s Italy vs Northern Ireland for God’s sake.
Man you people are so negative, they just won the Euro’s for God’s sake, and yes I will keep dreaming
Still trying to figure out what on earth Jorginho brings to the game of football.
Tom- you’re cool!
Bulgaria coach: ‘Azzurri can relax, I’ll take care of Switzerland’ ❗❗
MUCH NEEDED … 🙏 🙏
Regarding the team against NI .. why not try Pessina as a False 9 with Chiesa on the left and Berardi on the right?? A midfield of Tonali, Locatelli and Jorghino (hopefully his confidence isn’t destroyed and he can play well … as we need experience in the midfield as well as defensive solidity. Else play Christante. A problem here wud be the 3 haven’t played together before. At the back Acerbi and DiLorenzo are a liability .. but wud it be right to change the backline?? Else Zappacosta can come in at RB who will be an added help going forward. If Ferrari had played a little bit with this squad I’d put him in with Bonucci but it won’t be right to put him in straight in the crucial qualifier or for that matter G Mancini!!
Whichever team Mancini puts out … boys do the job .. let us be in peace .. PLEASE … for a while atleast❗❗
Forza Azzurri 🇮🇹👍👊💙🍀
Let’s see if mancini gets the midfield right. Loca is no mezzala and should be cdm instead of jorgi. Tonali as the free cm and either barella,christante as b2b.
It’s also clear that chiesa should have the free roaming forward role… not insigne
Don’t screw this boss.
Haha chill out nay sayers – we just won the Euros.
It’s better it happened now rather than at the World Cup next year.
Positives Jorgi won’t be main penalty taker anymore, looked a risk ever since the euro final miss.
Acerbi is definitely down the list of CB’s – Bastoni and Chiellini ahead if him every time if fit, he shouldn’t even be fourth choice.
Tonali looks good, adds to a great midfield.
Chiellini, Bastoni, Spinazzola, Verratti, Pellegrini, Zaniolo, Kean, Immobile (does the job for us better than Belotti) all to come back.
Mancini needed to realise the reliance on the Euro team isn’t a guarantee, adjustments always needed, from the post euro squad selections up until the nations league it was obvious he was picking his euro favourites, finally he can wake up and mix it up a bit, Scammaca is worth a try.
I believe we will qualify automatically, if not the worst draw for anyone in the playoffs would be us, so let’s not get too excited, if we play how we can, we can beat anyone – even at away at their own stadium in a capacity stadium in a major final.
We will get the win as I do not believe in the past, but scoring more than 2 with the likes of Belotti and with respect Berardi is going to be a bridge too far. I have the plumber on standby for the toilet.
It’s 2021, not 1958. The players, coaches, pitch are all different. All this foolish superstition is a manifestation of psychological weakness. It’s as if some are willing a self fulfilling prophecy. If anyone in the camp carries this anxiety then we will make an embarrassment of ourselves once again.
The team only needs a few adjustments. I would favour dropping Insigne and going for a more physical and dynamic attack. Insigne is far too hit and miss, often stinging like a butterfly. I would start with Chiesa on the left, with Scamacca and Berardi. It could be the making of the big number 9.
Do not let your heart be troubled if we cannot defeat NI with conviction then we do not deserve to qualify. The Bulgaria draw was the nail in the coffin but I am sure we can do it. dboy only get the plumber if we have to face the Swedes as they will predictably use the Allegri playbook having everyone sit behind.
For Switzerland to qualify: (1) If Italy win 1-0, Switzerland will have to win by at least 3-0. (2) If Switzerland lose 0-1, Italy will have to lose by at least 0-3. …I am afraid Switzerland will score at 3 or 4 Goals. So Italy should just on the Offensive right from Starting Whistle.
At last someone like Joe Del Monte has said the right thing. Most of you are so negative. My late mother used to say “If you think you are not going to win, then you will not win”. Most of you were so enthusiastic when we won in the summer and now you do not have faith in Mancio. Come on for goodness sake, he was and still is one of the best managers in the world and we have him. We will play our heart out and even if we should go to the play offs, there are sides which we are well within our reach so I have full faith in Mancio and our players. History is there for it to be broken just like we did to Germany in 2006 where they never had lost and guess what Germany lost 2 – 0 and also to Argentina in 1978. For those of you that are Italian, just remember we are dangerous when “Abbiamo l’acqua alla gola” which means when water reaches our throat, then we react which is exactly what we are going to do. Bravo Joe for saying exactly how negative the others are.
Mancini is among the best HC in the world, he just gave Italy an EURO trophy after 52/53 years Azzurri won it.
But he must confidence enough with the list of Italian Players that’s exist beyond his winning squad, he must changed some player that un-effective or already got killed their games by opponent. He cannot stick around with Di Lorenzo, Jorginho, Verratti, Insigne or Raspadori if they flop, there is so much another option.
Also he must try different game style, because the way Azzurri playing their games already well known by opponents, and now they already have the cryptonite to counter it and destroy it.
yeah they said “if not broke, don’t need to fix it”, but this is not a car, this is football, you must keep improved.
Since Euro Semi till last match against Swiss , Italy record is 1W, 5D, 1L. Isn’t this worrying enough for Mancini? and their won is only against Belgium on un-important match for 3rd place at un-important mini tournament. Even Bulgaria can hold them for draw at home.
So, If Mancini want his Azzurri, enter the WC and winning it, he must improve his team, their style, their tactic, their formation and their mental.
My fav so far in this WCQ is Germany and French, they playing well, genius and full with determination, and have winning mentality, Azzurri should have it again like in EURO, if they wanna reach the peak of the World in Qatar 2022, and should starting at tomorrow night in Belfast.
Go Azzurri!